The Physics M.S. Program is primarily based on completing coursework and in addition requires a capstone experience, usually in the form of a research component.
The M.S. program has 5 required core courses. Additional (core or elective) graduate courses need to be taken to accumulate a minimum of 30 credits for a Master’s degree. Finally, a capstone experience completes the degree requirements – there is a choice of a Master’s Thesis, a Master’s Project, or, for students in the PhD program, advancement to candidacy.
Full Time Student Status
All teaching and research assistants must take at least 6 credits per semester (two classes) to be considered full time students; all other graduate students must take 9 credits per semester (three classes) to have full-time status.
Once being involved in research, students may sign up for as many credits in Master's Thesis (899) or Doctoral Thesis (999) as necessary to make them full time. Ph.D. students must take a minimum of two semesters of 999.
Capstone Experience
In addition to the 5 required courses, the Master's student must select one of the following plans:
- Complete another 9 credits of coursework and a Master's Thesis, representing the equivalent of 6 semester hours' work, and pass an oral exam on the thesis.
- Complete another 15 credits of coursework, a research project (may account for up to 4 credits) and an oral exam in the format of a seminar. An exam committee consisting of two faculty members is required. Prior approval from the graduate advisor is required for this option.
- Complete another 15 credits of coursework and pass the thesis proposal / oral qualifying exams (for students in the Ph.D. program only).
We strongly recommend the thesis option since research experience is highly valued by employers and is qualitatively different from coursework. For a Master's degree, any number of electives may be at the 800 level.
